Center of the Universe: Only the Inevitable, #1

Summary

David dreamed of being a hero. Then his lost his family and his life spun out of control. Nothing goes right for him anymore, and he's stopped trying.

One night, he sees an impossible battle. He is pulled through a gateway to a different planet: Bantong, the center of the universe. It is a mad place where nothing makes sense, but there he can live his dream. He can do whatever he likes, except get home.

On Earth, David messed everything up. With a new life in a new place where nothing makes sense, can he make enough mistakes to become a hero? Or is he destined to forever fail?

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

N E Riggs

NRiggs0@gmail.com

NERiggs.com

Illustrator: Seth Pargin

SethPargin@hotmail.com

SethPargin.com

Editor: Angela Campbell

AddictedtoReviews@outlook.com

AddictedtoReviews.wordpress.com

The Yesterlords reign over the heavens,

Aeons sit enthroned in Pardis.

There are no coincidences.

Once I lived and danced across the cosmos

Now I lie breathless,

Dreaming between life and death.

When the tree of time bears fruit

I will live again.

1

The Day the Monsters Came

David, what’s wrong with you?

David put down his beer. Thanks, man, he said.

John rolled his eyes. Be serious. You know what I mean. You just quit another job. How long were you working there? Six months? Less?

Four months, David thought but didn’t say. It didn’t work out. He’d known an office job wouldn’t be his thing. He could run numbers through a computer as well as anyone else, but it wasn’t how he wanted to spend the rest of his life. He was meant for more than that.

It never works out, John said. He turned to David, his expression solemn. David continued staring down at his beer, studying the label as if it held all the secrets of the universe. You say it isn’t for you. Well, what is?

I don’t know, David mumbled, the same response he always had.

John stayed silent for a moment. Then, in a softer tone, he said, It’s not the job I worry about. You don’t know what to do with yourself. You keep changing your mind about what you’re supposed to do with your life. You go through girlfriends even faster than you go through jobs.

I’ve got a good life. I have money, I have my gym pass, and I can even afford my own apartment. He hadn’t always been able to. He’d lived with John and his family for almost four years after his parents’ deaths. He was sure John’s parents had been thrilled when he finally moved out of their basement.

Is that all you need? Exercise and a place to sleep? John asked. He always worried too much. David shrugged. You don’t care about anything. Nothing makes you happy. Not anymore.

David was silent, turning towards the television above the bar, pretending to watch the game. He didn’t really see it. John didn’t understand. He had a clear passion in life and things came easily for him. He’d always wanted to be an engineer. He’d studied hard, gotten a degree, and found a job right out of college. He was happy with his work, earning good money, and he’d just proposed to his long-term girlfriend. David wasn’t like John. He’d been passionate once too, when he was still a kid. Then his parents had died, leaving him in debt and constant doubt. He’d barely graduated high school, finding mind-numbing, low-paying jobs ever since.

I know it hasn’t been easy, John said, even though David was still staring at the television. And we’re still young. You have time. But you can’t wander around, expecting something fantastic to just appear one day. You have to go looking for it. So stop being an angst muppet and move.

He finished his beer in one long swallow and stood up from the bar, dropping some bills next to his drink. Thanks, he said. I’ll think about what you said. Then he turned, ignoring John’s hurt look, and walked out of the bar. The cool autumn air hit him outside, and he pulled his jacket tighter around him. He walked quickly down the street, heading for the nearest subway station. As he walked, he tried not to resent John. John only ever had David’s best interest at heart. It wasn’t his fault David was a failure.

Across the street spread a park. As David walked past, a leaf lifted off from the ground and floated away though there was no breeze. He followed its path with a frown – and that was when he saw the bright light through the trees. David stopped and stared, squinting through the pine trees that lined the park. It couldn’t be a street light – it was too bright. And he’d never seen a street light that glowed blue.

The light glowed steadily for maybe a minute before disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. David almost turned to continue his walk when he heard a loud screech. He jumped at the sound and looked around. He couldn’t see anyone else. The screech came again; it almost sounded like a bird, but no birds were that loud. Not in Boston.

He hesitated a moment longer then crossed the street. He wouldn’t get too close, just peer through the trees. It was probably just a bunch of kids causing trouble. Just in case, he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.

He slowed down as he reached the edge of the park, keeping close to the trees. The weird blue light had vanished, but there were a few street lights inside the park, and it was just bright enough for him to see something that made his jaw drop.

Off the path that ran through the park, not ten feet from where David crouched, stood a group of hulking creatures, arranged in a loose circle. David trembled as he stared at them. They looked a bit like lions – they were the same size and basic shape, he thought, staring in horror at their claws. They had bird heads, complete with enormous beaks. And out of their backs sprouted huge, feathery wings. Some distant part of David’s brain labeled them as griffins. The one to the far right raised its head and let out another high-pitched screech that rattled David’s bones.

Then David noticed a woman standing in the center of the circle of monsters. He couldn’t make out much detail since the monsters blocked his view, but she was holding a gun in her hand. He frowned, squinting at it. He couldn’t see much detail from here, but it didn’t look like any gun he’d ever seen before. A gold disk hung from her belt.

David reached up and pinched his cheek, convinced he was either going mad or had drunk far more than he’d realized. He raised his cell phone and started dialing, sure the police wouldn’t get here before the woman was killed. Also, how the fuck did a person make a 911 call for attack by mythical creatures?

The woman coolly cocked her gun at the nearest monster. No bang sounded, merely a faint humming noise. A red line appeared from the muzzle of the gun, striking the monster right between its eyes. With an abbreviated shriek, the monster collapsed in a heap. David stared, his finger still poised above the last digit on his cell phone.

Another screech of pain rang out. While he’d been staring, the woman had shot another monster with her laser beam gun, the second griffin also falling to the ground with a thud. Numbly, David put his cell phone back in his pocket. The woman didn’t seem like she needed any help. She turned and shot again, twice in rapid succession, killing two more monsters. She moved swiftly and gracefully, hitting the monsters in the center of their foreheads with expert precision, and David wished he could see her more clearly.

She turned as she killed another monster. Then one of the monsters lunged towards her back, claws extended, beak snapping. Duck! David yelled, jumping to his feet. The woman stumbled and fell to her knees. David didn’t have time to see if she was okay, because the remaining monsters turned, spotting him through the trees. He froze, his mouth going suddenly dry, realizing again that he was only ten feet away.

He jumped at the woman’s voice, turned, and ran as fast as he could. The pine trees that edged the park stood close enough together that the monsters couldn’t easily maneuver amongst them, so David kept to the trees, frantically dodging branches and roots. He could barely see a foot in front of him, and he forced himself to keep his eyes on the ground. He tried not to listen to the sounds of the monsters pursuing him. From behind came another screech of pain followed by a loud thump – he hoped the woman was still fighting the monsters.

Soon, too soon, he reached the end of the park. He turned, following the line of trees around the corner. He risked a glanced over his shoulder and saw two monsters were almost on top of him. He turned back and ran faster, panting desperately. His foot caught a root, and he tumbled to the ground, his heartbeat deafening.

A snarl sounded from behind him as he struggled back to his feet, but it was cut off in a shriek. A strong hand grabbed him by the upper arm and dragged him to his feet. David barely had time to see the woman had caught up to him before they were running through the pine trees again.

The woman made to continue running through the trees, but David pulled her out and back into the park. The woman said something else – he didn’t recognize the language.

Trust me, David said between breaths. He’d walked through this park many times. There was a pavilion in the center where people had picnics in the summer. More importantly, just beside the pavilion stood a brick bathroom that he was fairly sure remained unlocked year-round. If they could get there, they might be safe.

He could see the bathroom even now. He ran faster, trying to ignore the tightness in his chest, panting loudly for breath. The woman ran beside him, too busy to attack the monsters again. And then they reached the bathroom. The women’s side was closer. David pushed the door open. The woman dashed inside, not slowing down. He lunged through after her, slamming the door closed behind him. The woman put her back to the door beside him. A moment later, the door shuddered as one of the monsters ran into it.

But the door held firm.

Oh God, David said, still panting. He’d just survived being attacked by make-believe monsters. Oh my fucking God. His legs shook but he didn’t move from the door. Weakly, he patted at the wall beside the door until he found the light switch.

The sudden brightness made his eyes water. The woman moved away from beside him, grabbed a chair that stood near the baby changing table, and wedged it against the door. David finally stumbled away from the door, trying to ignore the thumps as the monsters try to get past.

You saved my life, he said to the woman. He finally had a chance to study her. She was older than he’d thought, from the hints of gray in her hair and faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. At least forty, he judged. She wore a sleeveless red shirt, and he could clearly see the muscles in her arms. She was still attractive, with short, straight, dark hair and sharp eyes. Her cool, laser beam gun was now holstered at her hip, and blood coated her left shoulder. And that gold disk still hung from her belt, unused. He stared at it, fascinated. The discus was maybe a foot across with a large hole in the center. The edges looked very sharp. It reminded him of the weapon Xena used.

The woman pulled something out of her pocket and pressed it against his temple. A small circle, maybe an inch across, that felt cool against his skin. Worried, he poked at it and touched metal. Can you understand me now? the woman asked. Her mouth moved but the words that came out weren’t synced up – like she was being badly dubbed. She brushed hair back from her temple, showing a piece of metal attached there.

Yes. What is—

You saved my life too, the woman said, smiling at him. Her hand briefly touched her stomach. I knew you would, David.

He blinked. How do you know my name?

Her smile turned soft. I know everything about you, David Kemp. How could I not? Then she shook her head. We don’t have much time to talk. I am Cethon Jing, and I am here to find you. We have to get back to where I was when you first called out to me.

Are you fucking insane? There are monsters out there! David waved at the door. As if on cue, it groaned under another assault. The entire door curved inward from the force of the blow. It held, for now, but wouldn’t much longer. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, relieved he hadn’t dropped it, and started dialing.

No, Cethon said, putting her hand over his. The authorities of this world cannot find out about this.

David ignored her nonsense statement. What else can we do? You can’t kill all of those things!

We can get out that way, Cethon pointed. David followed her finger to see a small window above the toilet in the handicapped stall. She walked over, stood on the rim of the toilet, and worked the latch on the window.

Won’t the monsters see us? David asked. He thought the window was big enough for him to fit through.

We’re on the opposite side, Cethon said. She got the window open and stuck her head out to check. They’ll find us soon enough, but we only need a little time. The gateway will open again in a few minutes. She clambered through the window. After perching for a moment on the sill, she dropped down on the other side.

David glanced back towards the door again and saw it had begun to splinter. He swallowed hard and hurried over to the window, finally stuffing his cell phone back in his pocket. Standing on the toilet, he was barely able to get his leg up to the window. He had to hunch down to fit his body through. Halfway, he pushed off the wall and tumbled down to the ground. There were bushes beneath the window that cushioned his fall, but he still scraped himself up pretty badly.

He pulled himself out of the bushes, wincing and rubbing his arm. There were no monsters in sight, but for how long? David led Cethon further behind the bathroom until they were once again amongst the pine trees, hopefully hidden from sight. They tried to move as silently as they could. The row of trees curved, and David could faintly see the monsters. Only four griffins remained. David couldn’t remember how many of them had been there to begin with. Even as he watched, the bathroom door splintered and fell. The lead monster pounced inside and roared when it found it empty.

Start running, Cethon whispered grimly and followed her own advice.

David pulled his gaze away from the monsters and ran beside Cethon, still trying to keep quiet. In the distance, David could see the clearing where Cethon had first fought the monsters. Dead griffins littered the clearing, and a terrible stench filled the air. How much longer? he asked.

Too long, Cethon said grimly. She pulled the disk from where it hung on her belt and shoved it at David. He fumbled, barely catching it. Bramira belongs to you. Take it.

What? David glanced down and gaped. The disk had begun to glow golden as soon as he took hold of it. He was so surprised he nearly dropped it.

Throw it at the griffins when they get close. Cethon pulled out her futuristic gun from the holster at her side. An avian shriek sounded somewhere behind them. Cethon veered away from the relative safety of the pine trees and back out into the open. David bit his lip but followed her. If the monsters went after him, he wouldn’t stand a chance. He had to stick close to Cethon.

They reached the clearing, David being careful to keep clear of the corpses. Another squawk sounded, closer this time. The monsters were coming for them. He clutched the weapon as tightly as he dared. I have no idea how to use this, you know.

Cethon laughed. You burn like a thousand suns. Bramira will respond to your every whim.

And then there was no time for anything else, because the last four griffins appeared, loping rapidly towards